Macroeconomics and Health (CMH)

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Consultation on National Responses to the CMH Report - June 2002

To identify future directions, a Consultation on National Responses to the CMH Report was held at WHO Headquarters in June 2002. Ministers and senior representatives from the ministries of health, finance and planning from 19 countries came together with representatives from the World Bank, 12 bilateral agencies, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and WHO staff to discuss how to translate the CMH recommendations into country actions.

The Consultation considered what could be done to dramatically increase investments for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in health, and the steps countries need to take to accelerate national action. Senior representatives from the following countries participated in the meeting:

The Consultation recommended that each country supporting Macroeconomics and Health work should develop a specific plan of action appropriate to its situation, keeping in view the broad parameters of action outlined in the CMH Report. Development of an action plan requires a number of key activities including :

1. Advocacy on CMH findings and mobilization of additional political support:

communicate the CMH concept and messages and encourage debates on the Report's findings

define the appropriate country-level response to CMH recommendations.

2. Data analysis, development of strategies, and setting out a framework of macroeconomics and health action:

review relevance of CMH findings within a country context

investigate system constraints to scaling up

ensure that information on coverage, equity, and cost effectiveness of priority services is available

develop national health investment plans on how to reach people effectively

consider approaches to retaining and training health care professionals across all levels of the health system